SOCIAL SERVICES AT MCKINNON HIGH SCHOOL/COLLEGE
SOCIAL SERVICE AT MCKINNON HIGH SCHOOL/SECONDARY COLLEGE 1954-2013
There is a long tradition of social service and community spirit at McKinnon. Social service was taken very seriously in the 60’s with ‘service’ being key on the school emblem.
Students raised money at form level, often in competition with other forms. In 1959, 34 dozen eggs were collected for the Mayoress of Moorabbin’s Hospital Egg Appeal. In 1960, 1500 eggs were collected for the same appeal.
In 1961, 100 dozen eggs were collected for hospitals, tokens were sold for the RSL and Spastic Children’s Society while soft and wooden toys for children were made for an Education Dept appeal. Funds were also raised for the Seeing Eye Dog appeal.
1962 was a very busy year with 1404 eggs collected for the Mayoress of Moorabbin’s Hospital Egg Appeal. 118 pounds were raised for the Royal Children’s Hospital while Ormond Special School, Red Cross, the Spastic Children’s Society, Legacy, Guide dogs, Child Welfare Association, Yooralla, Save the Children and others were recipients.
During 1962, Form 4 & 5 boys also carried out odd jobs at the Ormond Special School during Thursday afternoon activities class and woodwork classes made teaching aids for that school. Form 5A (Year 11) won the Gallagher Shield which was presented to a form producing outstanding social service contributions each year.
The social service emphasis was changed in 1964 to service rather than the collection of money. Students assisted at the Annual Fete, sale of Legacy tokens at stations, collected 208 pounds for the Mercy Hospital.
300 pounds was raised for our Seeing Eye Dog, Les McKinnon, named after Les Bowe, the Principal at the time. As this amount was exceeded, a second dog, Margot, named after the chemistry mistress, was sponsored. Both dogs later visited the school with their handlers.
900 pounds was collected and distributed during 1964.
During 1965, the head prefect organised stalls in Bentleigh and the city to raise funds for the Spastic Children’s Society. Collections also went towards financing a trip to Melbourne for aboriginal children from Nathalia HS. The response to calls for billets for these students was outstanding. Each form had an enthusiastic social services representative with original fund-raising ideas.
120 pounds was raised for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday appeal, 20 pounds to the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind, 36 pounds for the RSL Anzac appeal.
In 1967 all students contributed to the Tasmanian Bushfire Appeal with McKinnon being the 4th highest donors in Victorian state school.
Cake stalls and special efforts at form level raised the funds. $150 was also raised by the McKinnon Young Set, Children’s Hospital Auxiliary for that hospital. Funds were raised at a talent quest and a junior school concert with each form collecting for the school’s donations to various appeals.
1968 produced $1000 for social service before the end of Term 2 – a remarkable achievement - through weekly contributions, special efforts and workouts (jobs for students). Money was donated to the Red Cross for relief in Vietnam, RCH appeal, Anzac Day appeal, Freedom from Hunger appeal (walkathon from Frankston to Mordialloc and another from Caulfield station to the Myer Music bowl). Toys were made by forms 1 for the Legacy Toy Appeal.
A special effort for a Queensland kindergarten for aboriginal children and donations to Nathalia HS for scholarships for aboriginal children – funds were raised by the end of Term 2.
$600 was also raised for another seeing eye dog. This completed the 1968 fund-raising.
Similar fund raising was carried out in 1969.
The sponsorship of scholarships for aboriginal students at Nathalia high school continued until 1971.
In 2010, $15,000 was raised for the charity, Canteen.
In 2011, $26,000 was raised for Beyond Blue.
During a bad flood in McKinnon in 2011, Principal Pitsa Binnion arranged for students to go to Prince Edward Avenue, McKinnon and other low-lying streets to assist residents with their clean-up.
During 2012, $35,000 was donated to Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation.
Also in 2012, Daniel Gregg-Mantle raised $10,000 for a Botswana orphanage. He was awarded the Glen Eira City Council Young Citizen of the Year for his efforts.
In 2013, $40,000 was raised for the State Schools Relief Fund.
Jenny (Good) Cooke
Thistlelonians Secretary